Lawmakers file motions against train fare hikes

Lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives are the latest petitioners against fare hikes in Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) and Light Rail Transit I and LRT 2.

They are Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, who have questioned the fare increases before the Supreme Court (SC).

Joining Ejercito and Atienza were incumbent and former lawmakers and labor leaders who all sought a temporary restraining order to stop the fare hikes, which were imposed on January 4 this year.

They pointed out that the Department of Transportation and Communications is guilty of grave abuse of discretion in issuing Department Order 2014-014, dated December 18, 2014, which, the petitioners said, is beyond the DOTC’s authority.

“The DOTC unilaterally proposed, approved and implemented the fare adjustment[s]. Hence, [it]has no authority to issue the assailed Department Order; it is therefore null and void,” the petition said.

Four petitions in the SC against the train fare hikes were earlier filed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco, Bayan Muna party-list group and United Filipino Consumers and Commuters.

An MRT 3 trip from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Manila now costs P28 from the original P15; an LRT 1 trip from Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City to Baclaran in Paranaque City is now P30 from P20; and an LRT 2 trip from CM Recto in Manila to Santolan Road in Quezon City is now P25 from the original P15.

1 Comment

It seems to me that the government cannot afford to have a mass transit. People are resisting fare hikes; the government couldn’t afford in a long term to subsidize the cost of operations. Lack of support from the government to protect the investors. There is no more room for the investors to put additional money to upgrade railway transit because they cannot forecast a return of investment. And, where will the government get the additional funding to cover the additional cost of operations? For this reason, the people are now feeling the effect of the so called “CULTURE OF CORRUPTION”.